Adjustable chair



Aug., l2, 19M. W. A. ROCKENFIELD lf ADJUSTABLE CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Jan. 6, 1940 IN'VENTOR.

W/W/mf i /facefff/d BY mi es ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed Jan. 6,1940 2 INVENTOR.

l ATTORNEYS,

W. A. ROCKENFIELD 22,097

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UITED T TES anni

TENT

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable chairs.

This invention relates to chairs `and particularly to chairs havingbacks which are adjustable as to inclination. It has Vfor its bjects:

N First, to produce a new land improved chair.

Second, to produce such a chair having a novel and highly efficientmechanism by means of which the inclination of the back may be adjusted.

Third, to provide such a chair having back adjusting mechanism which isextremely simple in form and which can be made economically.

Fourth, to produce a chair having such mechanism which is positive inits operation and in which the release of the locking mechanism may beaccomplished easily.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies ofconstruction 'and operation will appear from the description to follow.Preferred embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of `a chair embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the chair taken on line 2-2 of Fig.5, showing the relationship of the chair adjusting mechanismto the chairback.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, showingthe friction lock mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line elf-4 of Fig. 2 showingthe manner of pivoting the back of the chair. l

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view embodyingV my invention showing thearrangement of theworking parts.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the frictional parts of the adjusting mechanismin disassembled relationship.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional `view taken through the friction slideforming part of my improved mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the operation of the wedge actuatingmechanism.

yMy new and improved chair I consists of a frame 2 of conventional formanda back 3 which is pivoted .on .pivots 4 to the frame so that it maybe adjusted as to inclination as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Theback is held in adjusted Yposition by the rod 5 which is fastened in theback which extends downwardly as shown in Fig. 2 to be pivotallyconnected with a link 6 by a rivet or screw/l. The linkY B is pivoted atits other end at 8 to my improved adjusting mechanism.

My improved adjusting mechanism consists of a fixed friction member 9which is fixed to the frame .2 by screws I0. The friction face Il ofthis member extends on a line perpendicular to the front and rear edgesof the chair. Opposed to the face I I is .theiixed wedge I2 which hasits face I3 spaced from and opposed to the Yface II of the iixedfriction member 9. The face I3 of the iixed wedge I2 extends on a linegenerally from front to rear of the chair but is inclined away from theface II of the member Il toward the back of the chair. The iixed wedgeis held in place on frame 2 by suitable screws Ill. A plate MIEpreferably covers a portion of the wedge I2.

Disposed between the fixed friction member 9 and the fixed wedge I2 is amovable wedge I5. The movable wedge I5 `has its face I6 opposed .toandin contact with the face I3 .of the fixed wedge I2. Its face Il liesparallel with the face II of the fixed friction member 9. Disposedbetween the faces II and Il is a slide IB which is provided withprojecting ears I9 and apertured as vat 8 for attachment to the end ofthe link -I.

I prefer to make -the` edges 25 of the slide `III of tapered form asshown and to employ friction materialin making these edges. I -havefound that regular V--belting, either in leather or rubber, issatisfactory for this purpose.

In order lto accommodate the edges 20 of the slide I 8, I groove theface II as shown at 2I and the face Il as shown Iat 22, so that theedges 20 Vof the slide will fit slidably therein.

In my invention, I provide greater friction between the slide I8 andthemovable wedge I5 than between the movable wedge I5 and the fixed wedgeI2, so that any Ytendency to move the slide IB will tend to move theslide I5 so that any force exerted against the chair back tending totilt it will force the slide I8 with the wedge I5 into a position totightly lock the slide in position. This may be 'accomplished as shownin the drawings by having the xed wedge I2 and the slidable wedge I5made of wood with the opposed faces simple plain faces, while thefriction material on the edges 2!) of the slide I8 also increases thefriction between the slide I8 and the sliding wedge I5.

I may, to assure even frictional engagement between the edges 2U oi' theslide I8 and the faces II and I'I, provide spring means to urge theedges of the slide I8 outwardly. In such a construction, the edges 20 ofthe slide I8 are not fixed thereto. 'Ihey are provided with sockets 23into which pins 24 on the slide I8 extend and are urged outwardly bycompressed coil spring 25 fitted in bores 26 in the slide I8 andextending into sockets 21 in the sides 20.

In order to control the movement of the chair, I provide a wedge releaselever 28 which is pivoted at 29 to the xed friction member 9 and at 30to the movable wedge I5. The end of the lever 28 extends towards theedge o-f the frame and is provided with lan aperture 3| into which hook32 on link 33 is inserted. The link 33 is pivoted at 34 to a lever 35which is keyed on a shaft 36 which extends to the outside of the framewhere it receives a handle 31 which can be manipulated to move the wedgeI5 back and forth along the fixed wedge I2 to release or lock the slideI8 lin adjusted position.

A spring 38 having one end fastened to bracket 39 which is provided witha series of holes 49 is fastened to the lever 28 at 4I, where a seriesof holes may be provided as shown to make possible the positioning ofthe spring to give the desired tension. The spring is biased to tend topull the wedge I5 into locking position. The mechanism above describedholds the chair back firmlyin any adjusted position |to which it is setbecause of spring 38 which urges the movable wedge I5 to wedgingposition.

In order to assure an easy release of the chair back .when it is desiredto have it return to vertical position, I provideY a stop consisting ofa bracket 42 -with screw 43 engaging the end of slide I5 to limitmovement of the slide I5 in the unlocking direction. The screw 43 may beadjusted sovthait a friction is exerted on the slide I8, although thefriction must not be strong enough to overcome the action of springs 44which are fastened to the ears I9 of 'the slide I8V at the point 8 andare fastened to the frame at the Vpoint 45, being biased to urge thechair back to vertical position whenever it is not locked in an inclinedposition.

The locking means above described may be made easily and simply and ithas the advantage of being easy to release to permit the chair back toreturn to vertical position, although it locks the back positively andwedges tightly when a force is exerted against the chair back tending togive it more inclination.

The terms and expressions which have been here employed are used asterms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in theuse of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and describedl or portions thereof. It is recognized thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of thev inventionclaimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a chair having a frame and a pivoted back thereon adjustable as toinclination and spring means tending to swing the back to verticalposition, the combination of a fixed friction member mounted on theframe and having a longitudinally grooved face extending substam tiallyperpendicularly to the pivotal axis of said direction of said chairback, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and having aninclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and alongitudinally grooved face extending parallel to the grooved face ofsaid fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposedbetween said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge and havingside members of fric tion material shaped to fit in the grooves of saidlongitudinally grooved faces and spring pressed outwardly from saidslide, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face ofsaid xed wedge to clamp said slide between the longitudinally groovedfaces of said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to releasethe same, spring means for normally urging said sliding wedge to slideclamping position, a stop to limit movement of said sliding wedge in thedirection which releases said slide whereby the slide is maintained infrictional contact with said movable wedge, and means connecting saidslide to said chair back whereby the position of said slide determinesthe adjusted position of said chair back.

2. In a chair having a frame and a pivoted back thereon adjustable as toinclination and spring means tending to swing the back to verticalfposition, the combination of a fixed friction member mounted on theframe and having a longitudinally grooved face extending substantiallyperpendicularly to the pivotal axis of said back, a fixed backing wedgemounted on the frame and having a face spaced from and opposed ito saidfirst mentioned face and at an angle thereto diverging therefrom in thegeneral direction of said chair back, a slidable wedge disposed betweensaid faces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixedwedge, and a longitudinally grooved face extending parallel to thegrooved face of said xed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slidedisposed between said fixed friction member and said slidN able wedgeand having side members of friction material shaped to fit in thegrooves of said longitudinally grooved faces, means for sliding saidsliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp saidslide between the longitudinally grooved faces of said fixed frictionmember and said sliding wedge or to release the same, spring means fornormally urging said sliding wedge to slide clamping position, a stop tolimit movement of said sliding wedge in the direction which releasessaid slide whereby the slide is maintained in frictional contact withsaid movable wedge, and means connecting said slide to said chair backwhereby the position of ,said slide determines the adjusted position ofsaid chair back.

3. In a rchair having a frame and a pivoted back thereon adjustable asto inclination, the combination of a fixed friction member mounted onthe fram-e and having a face extending substantially perpendiculaily tothe pivotal axis of said back, a fixed backing wedge mounted on theframe and having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentionedface and at an angle thereto diverging therefrom in the generaldirection of said chair back, a slidable wedge disposed between saidfaces and having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge,and a face extending parallel to the face of said fixed friction memberand spaced therefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed frictionmember and said slidable wedge, means providing greater friction betweensaid slide and said slidable wedge than between said slidable wedge andsaid fixed wedge, means for sliding said sliding wedge along theinclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between the fixedfriction member and said sliding Wedge or to release the same, springmeans for normally urging said sliding wedge to slide clamping position,and means connecting said slide to said chair back whereby the positionof said slide determines the adjusted position of said chair back.

4. In a chair having a frame and a pivoted back thereon adjustable as toinclination, the combination of a fixed friction member mounted on theframe and having a face extending substantially perpendicularly to thepivotal axis of said back, a fixed backing wedge mounted on the frameand having a falce spaced from and opposed to said rst mentioned faceand at an angle thereto diverging therefrom in the general direction ofsaid chair back, a slidable wedge disposed between said faces and havingan inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a facelextending parallel to the face of said fixed friction member and spacedtherefrom, a slide disposed between said fixed friction member and saidslidable wedge, means providing greater friction between said slide andsaid slidable wedge than between said slidable wedge and said fixedwedge, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face ofsaid fixed wedge to clamp said slide between the fixed friction memberand said sliding wedge or to release the same, and means connecting saidslide to said chair back whereby the position of said slide determinesthe adjusted position of said chair back.

5. In a chair having a frame having thereon a back adjustable as toinclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprisinga fixed friction member mounted on said frame and having alongitudinally grooved face, a fixed backing wedge mounted on said frameand having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentioned faceand at an angle thereto, a slidable wedge disposed between said facesand having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed wedge, and alongitudinally grooved face extending parallel to the grooved face ofsaid fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposedbetween said fixed friction inember and said slidable wedge and havingside members of friction material shaped to t in the grooves of saidlongitudinally grooved faces and spring pressed outwardly from saidslide, means for sliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face ofsaid fixed wedge to clamp said slide between the longitudinally groovedfaces of said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or to releasethe same, and means connecting said slide and said chair back.

6. In a chair having a frame having thereon a back adjustable as toinclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprisinga fixed friction member mounted on said frame and having alongitudinally grooved face, a fixed backing wedge mounted on said frameand having a face spaced from and opposed to said first mentioned faceand at an angle thereto, a slidable wedge disposed between said facesand having an inclined face engaging the face of said fixed Wedge, and alongitudinally grooved face extending parallel to the grooved face fsaid fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposedbetween said fixed friction member and said slid-able wedge and havingside members of friction material shaped to fit in the grooves of saidlongitudinally grooved faces, means for sliding said sliding wedge alongthe inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp said slide between thelongitudinally grooved faces of said fixed friction member and saidsliding wedge or to release the same, and means connecting said slideand said chair back.

'7. In a chair having a frame and a back thereon :adjustable asI toinclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprisinga fixed friction member mounted on said frame and having a face, a fixedbacking wedge mounted on the frame and having a face spaced from andopposed to said first mentioned face and dii/erging therefrom, aslidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined faceengaging Ithe face of said fixed wedge, and a face extending parallel tothe face of said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slidedisposed between said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge,means providing greater friction between said slide and said slidablewedge than between said slid-able Wedge and said fixed wedge, means forsliding said sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedgeto clamp said slide between said fixed friction member and said slidingwedge or to release the same, and means connecting said slide and saidchair back.

8. In a chair having a frame and a back thereon adjustable as toinclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprisinga fixed friction member mounted on said frame and having a face, a fixedbacking wedge mounted on said frame and having a face spaced from andopposed to said first mentioned face and diverging therefrom, laslidable wedge disposed between said faces and having an inclined faceengaging the face of said fixed wedge, and a face extending parallel tothe face of said fixed friction member and spa-ced therefrom, a slidedisposed between said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge,friction material disposed between said slide and said slidable wedge toprovide greater friction between said slide and slidable wedge thanbetween said slidable wedge and said fixed wedge, means for sliding saidsliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge to clamp saidslide between said fixed friction member and said sliding wedge or torelease the samie, and means connecting said slide and said chair back.

9. In a chair having a frame and a back thereon adjustable as toinclination, means for holding the back in adjusted position comprisinga xed friction member mounted on said frame and having a face, a fixedbacking wedge mounted on said frame and having a face spaced from andopposed to said first mentioned face and diverging therefrom, a slidablewedgeV disposed between said faces and having an inclined face engagingthe face of said fixed wedge, and a face extending parallel to the faceof said fixed friction member and spaced therefrom, a slide disposedbetween said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge, frictionmaterial disposed between the faces of the slide and the opposing facesof said fixed friction member and said slidable wedge, means forslidingsaid sliding wedge along the inclined face of said fixed wedge toclamp said slide between said fixed friction member and said slidingwedge or to release the s-ame, and means connecting said slide and saidchair back.

WILLIALE A. ROCKENFIEID.

